Career/Internship Opportunities

# of Positions: 1

Location: Dallas

Department:
Industry Coverage

Hiring Manager:
Miller, Debby

Description:

The firm is seeking bright, hard-working candidates to help accelerate its growth as Portfolio Analysts. The 2009 Analyst Class will be joining a new two-year program designed to attract top performing candidates seeking to gain experience in credit and alternative investments.  Select Analysts will have an opportunity to remain with the firm after the completion of the two-year program. In addition, select Analysts will be offered the opportunity to attend graduate school and return to the firm at the firm’s expense.   

Responsibilities

•          Due diligence on the firm’s investment ideas
•          Fundamental credit analysis
•          Assist in developing investment recommendations
•          Benchmarking analysis, valuation analysis, and industry research
•          Coordinate with senior members of the investment staff in performing analysis

•             2-3 years post-undergrad experience with superior performance at an investment/corporate bank, or top-tier management consulting firm
•             An undergraduate degree from a top-tier school
•         Strong analytical and financial acumen, outstanding modeling skills and solid business judgment.
•         Excellent organizational, interpersonal, writing and presentation skills.
•         A strong work ethic with a demonstrated record of achievement. Must be highly motivated, internally driven and able to work efficiently in a fast paced environment.
•         Ability to work an average of 60 hours per week

# of Positions: 1

Location: Dallas

Department:
Private Equity

Hiring Manager:
Stuart, John

Description:

Highland’s Private Equity Group focuses on opportunistic controlling investments in a wide range of industries.  Highland is regarded as a leader in structuring complex distressed transactions, and pursues an activist approach to corporate turnarounds in the years following the investment.  Highland typically makes controlling investments in companies that have the potential to regain a long-term competitive advantage and build barriers to entry through differentiation of production efficiencies, product quality and service excellence.

Description:

Given Highland’s structure and team makeup, the Strategy Analyst is a pre-MBA position that will serve as the backbone of research and technical strength for the strategy team, and will also operate in a self-driven role dedicated to a domain of portfolio companies and industries.  This is a potentially a Senior Portfolio Analyst track position. 

• Responsible for driving data and research both in the office and on-site alongside members of private equity and portfolio company management teams on a variety of projects related to portfolio company strategy.
• Assists in development and implementation of plans related to specific areas of strategic improvement for portfolio companies, including areas such as strategic M&A, market entries and exits, etc.
• Researches industry best practices and makes recommendations for integration of ideas into portfolio company operations.
• Assists the transactions team in the execution of investment and sale transactions including due diligence when necessary.
• Identify attractive industry trends, investment ideas and sourcing strategies, while building a relationship and network in your given industries.

Qualifications:

• 1-4 years experience at top-tier consulting firm or similar experience specifically in a private equity firm
• Strong organizational skills with ability to work independently and multi-task in a complex, fast-paced, and deadline-driven environment
• Bachelor’s degree required from a highly ranked undergraduate university
• A record of superior academic performance

Position: Financial Analyst

Compensation: To be determined

How to apply: www.excoresources.com submit resume under Careers tab

Company Name: EXCO Resources, Inc. (XCO)

Company Description: EXCO Resources, Inc. is a public independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development and exploitation of onshore North American properties. Our operations are focused in key North American oil and natural gas producing areas including East Texas/North Louisiana, Appalachia, Mid-Continent and Permian. We achieve reserve, production, and cash flow growth by executing our strategy through exploiting our multi-year development inventory, seeking acquisitions that meet our strategic and financial objectives, and exploiting our upside opportunities on our acquired properties. Our headquarters are in Dallas, TX.

Qualifications: Degree in Finance or Accounting

GPA 3.0 or higher

A year or more of equity analysis and corporate research

Desire to work in a fast-paced environment

Strong organizational skills

Competent in Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint

Description The position will entail analyzing competitor companies’ financials, tracking competitors, comparing valuation metrics, researching oil and natural gas industry trends, preparing reports, memos, and PowerPoint presentations, and assisting with corporate projects.

Website: www.excoresources.com

Address: 12377 Merit Drive, Suite 1700

Dallas, TX 75251

Title: Capital Analyst

REPORT TO: Capital Analyst Team Leader

OBJECTIVE:  To assist in the creation and maintenance of client financial plans and client portfolios and continually improve the process to result in more timely, pertinent and accurate financial plans.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Gather information and update the following reports in preparation for periodic client meetings:

o   Balance Sheet/Financial Statement

o   Asset Allocation

o   Cash Flow Projection (including Quicken analysis)

o   Income Tax Projection

o   Corporate Analysis

o   Insurance Summary

o   Estate Tax Projection

o   Education Analysis

o   Retirement Analysis

o   Survivor Needs Analysis

o   Estate Diagrams/Flow of Funds

o   Amortization Schedules

• Take detailed notes in all meetings attending.


• Prepare and send out reports (financial statements, CPA reports, etc.) to clients and other advisors on a periodic basis.


• Coordinate special projects such as mortgage and debt financing/refinancing, gathering insurance quotes, etc.


• Act as a liaison between the client and the Operations Team (wires, check request, etc.).


• Serve as backup to the Administrative Assistant for faxing and copying documents, confirming client meetings.


• Serve as backup to Client Coordinator for coordinating client documents (contracts, account setup, etc.).

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

In each of the areas below, the Capital Analyst will implement and execute strategies in collaboration with the Capital Strategist.  The Capital Strategist will review the work of the Capital Analyst.

o   Work with the client’s attorney to analyze appropriate legal frameworks for business and estate structures.

o   Analyze income replacement options including the need for insurance (disability, office overhead, life, etc.).

o   Provide the Investment Strategist with information to help create/modify portfolio investment objectives and plan for future liquidity needs (financial capital funds the asset and liability structure).

o   May assist as a secondary liaison between the client and the Investment Strategy Team; Capital Strategist serves as primary liaison.

o   Assist in the creation of the Investment Policy Statements of certain clients.

o   Analyze advanced techniques to meet clients’ generational goals (defective grantor trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, etc.).

o   Help the client set and manage goals in the following areas:

§  Annual living expenses

§  Lifestyle purchases (use assets such as homes, airplanes, personal property, etc.)

§  Philanthropic commitments

o   Analyze advanced estate and tax planning techniques:

§  Estate tax savings strategies

§  Gifting strategies

§  Asset protection strategies

§  Charitable strategies

§  Income tax management strategies

o   Create and help conceptualize visual presentations and models used in client meetings.

o   Communicate and coordinate implementation of various strategies with clients and advisors (CPAs, attorneys, etc.).

o   Assist in presentation of strategic issues during client meetings.

o   Coordinate the re-registration of assets from one entity to another (to living trusts or to family limited partnerships for example).

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

·         1-5 years experience or an advanced degree

·         In process of obtaining CFP designation or CFP designee

·         In process of obtaining Series 65 license

·         Excellent communication skills

·         Excellent technology skills.  Proficient in Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

·         Organized and able to follow through on projects in a timely manner

·         Easily adaptable to change and able to multi-task with confidence

·         Team player attitude (and positive attitude)

·         Has initiative and exhibits proactive behavior

·         Willing to learn and improve self

·         Be open and honest when giving feedback to team leader/members

·         Take responsibility

·         Ability to strategize on planning issues and coordinate implementation of these strategies

MINIMUM STANDARDS:

• Respond to clients’ needs in timely manner; return phone calls within 24 hours.


• Complete meeting notes within two weeks following the meeting.


• Assist with the completion of the initial plan within three to five weeks following fact-gathering meeting.


• Complete financial plans/updates and review with Capital Strategist at least two days prior to the client meeting


• Grow technology skills (internal software needs and manage web communication with clients).


• Maintain updated knowledge of planning techniques and laws (rules and regulations). 

Please contact Christie Williams at cwilliams@leefin.com, or call (972) 960-1001 for more information.